posted at 7:21 pm on June 25, 2013 by Allahpundit

Conservatives wanted two things out of this process vis-a-vis enforcement. One: They wanted to know that the border really would be secured this time so that we don’t have to revisit amnesty again in 25 years. Two: They wanted that security to come before any legalization of illegals commenced. We got neither of those things, the latter by Rubio’s own admission and the former by CBO’s. (CBO hasn’t offered an estimate of how much the Corker/Hoeven amendment would reduce illegal immigration, but if the original Gang of Eight bill reduced it by only 25 percent, rest assured that Corker/Hoeven’s not getting us anywhere near 100.) In fact, the Corker/Hoeven amendment that allegedly does everything conservatives could dream of on the border wasn’t even Rubio’s first choice when it came to boosting security. He flirted with backing Cornyn’s amendment, only to walk away when he pals Chuck and Lindsey told him that the hard targets Cornyn demanded were a bit too hard for their liking. That’s when Rubio turned to the weaker Corker/Hoeven — which, as it turned out, gave us everything we could possibly want.

You’re welcome, America:

Republican Senator Marco Rubio, shifting his tone on the U.S. immigration bill he helped to write, said on Tuesday he is now fully satisfied that the measure will do what it takes to secure the southern border with Mexico…

“This amendment basically now puts into place virtually everything people have been asking me to do about immigration enforcement since I began talking about this issue,” Rubio told a convention of the American Society of News Editors. “I think we’ve run out of things we can to do to support – to improve the border.”…

Asked about House Speaker John Boehner’s strategy for handling the immigration issue in that chamber, Rubio said it is up to House lawmakers to determine the course they want to take.

But he added: “I think we have a good piece of legislation they should take a look at. There are a lot of good ideas that they should adopt.”

I’ve got a question. If the bill now covers all the bases on the border, why are Gang of Eight members still considering offering Republican senators legislative bribes and kickbacks to win their votes?

Republican sources are telling National Review Online that Gang of Eight members were less-than-thrilled by the outcome of yesterday’s vote to advance their immigration reform bill, and they are now looking for ways to win — or buy — more GOP votes. The bill is certain to pass, of course, but proponents are hoping for 70 votes, meaning they will need more than the 15 Republicans who voted for cloture on Monday.

Opponents of the bill are concerned that, sometime within the next 24 to 48 hours, the Gang of Eight will come to an agreement with Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) to allow votes on a series of amendments that have been handpicked by the Gang, and are designed to placate wavering Republicans and win their votes for the final bill. It will not be an open process, as was originally promised, and could involve more giveaways like the “Casino Cash-out” and the “Crabhusker Kickback” – the functional equivalent of earmarks, which have been banned since 2011. ”It’s another backroom deal,” says one GOP aide. “This is how we do earmarks these days.”

Rob Portman’s amendment would at least strengthen E-Verify, not pay for an extraneous bridge or something in Ohio. Another question: What difference does getting a handful more Republican votes in the Senate make to the House at this point? They got 69 yesterday, which is considerably more than most major legislation ever gets these days. Even with that many in the bank, House aides are telling WaPo flatly that no one cares. “It wouldn’t be something a Republican Senate would bring to the floor,” said one aide. “Why should a Republican House just take it up?” (Tom Cole put it even more succinctly.) Because … it would help Rubio’s chances to be president in 2016?

As the Washington Examiner’s Philip Klein recently reported: “Under Obamacare, businesses with over 50 workers that employ American citizens without offering them qualifying health insurance could be subject to fines of up to $3,000 per worker. But because newly legalized immigrants wouldn’t be eligible for subsidies on the Obamacare exchanges until after they become citizens – at least 13 years under the Senate bill – businesses could avoid such fines by hiring the new immigrants instead.”

On Tuesday afternoon, THE WEEKLY STANDARD asked five different U.S. Senators about this problem. These five senators, all Democrats, voted to cut off debate Monday night on the revised immigration bill, but none of them knew if the bill would create a financial incentive for some employers to hire amnestied immigrants instead of American citizens.

“We’re trying to solve that right now. I don’t know if that’s been solved,” Senator Max Baucus of Montana (chief author of Obamacare) told THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

They voted to end debate on a bill without knowing for sure if it gives employers a huge incentive to hire illegals over Americans? What?

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Are we not loud enough?RCP has an article that suggest that demographic that sunk the Repubs in 2012 was the missing white vote, not Hispanics. My comment:
McCain et al are going after the wrong demographic. The “missing white vote” is what lost Republicans the election. Romney rubbed working class whites the wrong way with his backpedaling on gay marriage and other issues, and now the GOP as a whole wants to do exactly the wrong backpedal on a major issue that is very important to the missing white voters: immigration. Talk about taking a bad situation and making it worse. And about that “wrong demographic,” the current crop of low income fertile Hispanics are never going to vote for Republicans, it’s in their interest to seek redistribution $ from the wealthier. That means voting Democrat, always.

Hey, I nominated Cozmo’s Pants to run against her last night and got a second from Gryphon.

Let me know what I can do to help ‘y’all’ get rid of Miss Louisiana Purchase, who has voted for Obamacare, gun control and amnesty. How she stays a Senator in a state as red as Louisiana (IIRC, there is not one single Democrat elected to statewide office) would be way beyond comprehension.

Rubio will face a recall. Bet on it. You’ll win. He will be recalled and replaced with a Democrat. That is what we here in floriduh deserve for electing this POS in the first place. If it is one thing the Tea Party has going for it, is Honor. Rubio can challenge the recall by running as the Dem that he is.

Hey, I nominated Cozmo’s Pants to run against her last night and got a second from Gryphon.

Let me know what I can do to help ‘y’all’ get rid of Miss Louisiana Purchase, who has voted for Obamacare, gun control and amnesty. How she stays a Senator in a state as red as Louisiana (IIRC, there is not one single Democrat elected to statewide office) would be way beyond comprehension.

Resist We Much on June 25, 2013 at 8:57 PM

Her family *is* the Donkey kingmaker of the State… Ms Landrieu is Moon’s daughter and NOLA’s Mayor’s sister…

I’m not able to listen to Rush typically, but after this deal with Rube-io and not calling him out more pointedly I won’t be making an effort to listen either. I’m almost to that point with Mark Levin too. What I can’t figure out is why they can unload on McCain or Graham but won’t do the same with Rube-io.

What if, say, some goofball, but conservative, Christine O’Donnell type were to run against Rubio next time? I wonder how many here would morph into seat-keepers. I mean, Rubio would still vote conservative most other issues, right?

That is, until she encountered the wrath of AZ.
..but the humiliating retreat of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer from her seeming embrace of the Gang Bill suggests there’s room for backsliding under pressure. Brewer went on Fox and declared the Gang of 8′s illusory ”border surge” a “victory for Arizona.’ Within hours she’d posted a s—eating tweet declaring, ”For the record, I have not endorsed the Gang of 8 #immigration bill.’** Perhaps she’d heard from supporters in the interim–supporters she’d been counting on to contribute to the “Stand with Jan” campaign for “secure borders.”

I’m not able to listen to Rush typically, but after this deal with Rube-io and not calling him out more pointedly I won’t be making an effort to listen either. I’m almost to that point with Mark Levin too. What I can’t figure out is why they can unload on McCain or Graham but won’t do the same with Rube-io.

LtBarnwell02 on June 25, 2013 at 8:02 PM

They are cowards.

VorDaj on June 25, 2013 at 9:02 PM

Not a regular listener of either, but happened to hear the final 30-40 minutes of Levin’s show yesterday. His appraisal of Rubio fairly dripped with contempt. As for Minority Leader McConnell for not blocking the bill, and for all 15 of the Republicans who voted for cloture. McCain and Graham were beyond civil discussion.

hat is, until she encountered the wrath of AZ.
..but the humiliating retreat of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer from her seeming embrace of the Gang Bill suggests there’s room for backsliding under pressure. Brewer went on Fox and declared the Gang of 8′s illusory ”border surge” a “victory for Arizona.’ Within hours she’d posted a s—eating tweet declaring, ”For the record, I have not endorsed the Gang of 8 #immigration bill.’** Perhaps she’d heard from supporters in the interim–supporters she’d been counting on to contribute to the “Stand with Jan” campaign for “secure borders.”

TxAnn56 on June 25, 2013 at 9:14 PM

Hmmm I didn’t catch that…I’ve been on the road and shredding my papers today…

including the R/R 12 bumper stickers that came 3 days after the loss and Ryan’s pictures…

Rubio is talking about how people don’t trust the government and his solution is to create a bill in secret, shutdown debate, and force it down our throats before people can find out all the horrible consequences same as Obamacare? Guy has some twisted vision for restoring trust in government.

That is, until she encountered the wrath of AZ.
..but the humiliating retreat of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer from her seeming embrace of the Gang Bill suggests there’s room for backsliding under pressure. Brewer went on Fox and declared the Gang of 8′s illusory ”border surge” a “victory for Arizona.’ Within hours she’d posted a s—eating tweet declaring, ”For the record, I have not endorsed the Gang of 8 #immigration bill.’** Perhaps she’d heard from supporters in the interim–supporters she’d been counting on to contribute to the “Stand with Jan” campaign for “secure borders.”

TxAnn56 on June 25, 2013 at 9:14 PM

Personally I say too late. She needs to kicked out first chance comes our way – better to have someone stab you in the front.

Two possibilities: Either Rubio is a lying POS or Rubio is an idiot. Either way, he’s not going anywhere.

The vast majority of Americans want the border secured. This bill not only offers no guarantee this will happen, it makes it less likely to happen than if we merely kept existing law in place.

This bill is not what people asked for. Rubio is peeing on our feet and tellin us it’s raining. If I were a Florida resident, I would vote for the Democrat when he comes up for re-election. Better the Devil you know.

She was always for legalization. People were taken with her backing interior enforcement in AZ but Brewer was always saying that she wanted to legalize illegals. She played some patty-cake with Barky, too. A few stern words and then she was as docile as anything. This is nothing new. There were warnings before. Many.

It would be best for the GOP if it were to pass. It would then “ferment” for the next 5-6 weeks while the House ignores it and the rest of the failures of the bill come light. The backlash should then be so great no one will want touch it.

Remember the Democrat rush to push through the last 1,000 page bill called the Affordable Care Act, the one about which Nancy Pelosi famously said “we have to pass it to see what’s in it”?

Senators Flake and McCain made strong arguements about why large bills should not be rushed, and that American citizens as well as Senators should have the time necessary to read the proposed law….
FLAKE: ”The case for passing legislation we don’t understand is that we are correcting legislation we didn’t read. We keep hearing that we’ve got to do this because our constituents are demanding it–that they want to see these executives tarred and feathered. Now George Washington once said, “If to please the people, we do what we ourselves disprove how do we later defend our work? That’s the position we are in today. ”

“This is a representative democracy. Our constituents may not understand that this is a bill of attainder, but we know that. We are the representatives of the people and we know that and it’s our duty to uphold the Constitution. Now I don’t like the fact that these executives got those bonuses. And we should find a way constitutionally to deal with this issue, but rushing to pass a bill we don’t understand to–to correct a bill we didn’t read is not the solution hear today. Let’s reject this proposal.”

MCCAIN: ”Wouldn’t it be nice if every American citizen that wanted to could go online and read the legislation and give us their ideas and thoughts as to how we could make it better?”

“The text should be online so every American, not just the hundred of us who were fortunate enough to be here but every American should have the right to know what a fundamental reform of healthcare in America is all about.”

Rubio, being a Freshman Senator, and becoming a big player so soon in a major piece of legislation, has let the stage lights blind him. Drunk on the Klugs, he doesn’t even realize how he’s being used, apparently no clue at all. Sad, indeed, for someone who had so much promise. He caught the DC flu, for which there’s no cure.

I don’t know why anyone thinks Levin is soft on Rubio. Mark has been tearing the GOPe a new one for weeks over the gang of 8 and Rubio. Beck, shortly after the zuckerberg phony conservative ads began running on his show, he even addressed their crap while allowing that he can’t stop them from advertising, it doesn’t stop him from panning it.

Rubio, being a Freshman Senator, and becoming a big player so soon in a major piece of legislation, has let the stage lights blind him. Drunk on the Klugs, he doesn’t even realize how he’s being used, apparently no clue at all. Sad, indeed, for someone who had so much promise. He caught the DC flu, for which there’s no cure.

TXUS on June 25, 2013 at 11:13 PM

You’re giving Rubio waaaaaaaaaaaay too much credit.

He was a Trojan Horse meant to infiltrate the GOPe and assist in its’ suicide pact. His true colors started to show months ago. This isn’t some twist of bad luck… it was always intentional.

Rubio, being a Freshman Senator, and becoming a big player so soon in a major piece of legislation, has let the stage lights blind him. Drunk on the Klugs, he doesn’t even realize how he’s being used, apparently no clue at all. Sad, indeed, for someone who had so much promise. He caught the DC flu, for which there’s no cure.

TXUS on June 25, 2013 at 11:13 PM

He knows -exactly- what he’s doing. Rubio’s always been an amnesty shill, he just turned out to have been a better liar than Crist in 2010.

I don’t know why anyone thinks Levin is soft on Rubio. Mark has been tearing the GOPe a new one for weeks over the gang of 8 and Rubio. Beck, shortly after the zuckerberg phony conservative ads began running on his show, he even addressed their crap while allowing that he can’t stop them from advertising, it doesn’t stop him from panning it.

AH_C on June 25, 2013 at 11:14 PM

I think the true hardcore conservatives want to hear Rush and Levin issue a fatwa ordering a death sentence against Rubio.

Anything less that that and they are worthless flaming liberal heathen hippie scum phones baloney plastic banana good time rock n’ roller RINOs.

Darn, is there no one we can trust anymore?
Even Ted Cruz waited weeks (testing the water?) before he came out against amnesty.
As far as Rush & Levin go, I don’t listen to either. Want the real deal? Michael Savage.

During the race for Senator in Texas, Ted Cruz clearly addressed the amnesty issue. He was against amnesty. He has not wavered from that position. Thank you, Senator Cruz! We are not disappointed in you.

Is the illegal vs. American question why Reid suddenly has to do this now, now NOW (because people are starting to read the bill)?

UnderstandingisPower on June 25, 2013 at 9:05 PM

Reading it and can see quite plainly what it says.

For example, if the border is secure and there is no more illegal immigration why would DHS need 1000 Distress Stations in location where illegals become ill from climate conditions? Oh and these distress stations call for emergency service personnel.

Repeal the 17th Amendment. Imagine these clowns having to consult with their state legislatures instead of going on national talk shows and reading their poll numbers. We’d still get corrupt windbags, but we might be able to live in a constitutional republic a little while longer.

During the race for Senator in Texas, Ted Cruz clearly addressed the amnesty issue. He was against amnesty. He has not wavered from that position. Thank you, Senator Cruz! We are not disappointed in you.

mobydutch on June 26, 2013 at 12:39 AM

Rubio said the same when he ran. I wish that he was a man of his word like Cruz. There aren’t many politicians you can count on. I hope that Cruz runs for President. Rubio has already ended his political career.

“A self-identified DREAMer is claiming a staffer in Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s Tampa office attempted to get him deported by telling a police officer his immigration status.

Activists with the LGBT advocacy organization GetEqual protested Rubio’s office in Tampa Tuesday, voicing their frustration over his support for enhanced border security and his position on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act…”

I’ve got a question. If the bill now covers all the bases on the border, why are Gang of Eight members still considering offering Republican senators legislative bribes and kickbacks to win their votes?

to make them feel better about selling out the country and we the people, cuz they got some bacon to take home for the 4th of July holiday. fify.
Imagine that, selling out the country on Independence Day. Just wow.

At this point I don’t want any immigration bill to pass. The main thing lacking in Congress is common sense.

Dasher on June 26, 2013 at 10:02 AM

No, they have common sense…common sense tells them to do whatever they need to do to stay in power.

What they are lacking is a commitment to America…to making sure every bill they pass is to benefit America, and not just themselves…but common sense tells them not to do that, their princely job is much more important.

I used to listen to Savage on my commute home until they booted him from the time slot. I was bummed at first. They put The Michael Berry Show in his slot whom I had never heard of but I’m glad they did. He’s a riot. He’s smart, very funny and like Savage he shoots from the hip. Plus he’s from Texas and plays great music. If you get a chance give him a listen.

On Tuesday afternoon, THE WEEKLY STANDARD asked five different U.S. Senators about this problem. These five senators, all Democrats, voted to cut off debate Monday night on the revised immigration bill, but none of them knew if the bill would create a financial incentive for some employers to hire amnestied immigrants instead of American citizens.

“We’re trying to solve that right now. I don’t know if that’s been solved,” Senator Max Baucus of Montana (chief author of Obamacare) told THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

They don’t want this to pass, they know it won’t pass, it is just a big old club to beat Republicans with in 2014.

Cindy Munford on June 25, 2013 at 8:48 PM

Nope. GOP leadership wants this bill as bad, if not worse, than the Democrats do. And all is going according to plan – don’t for a moment think otherwise. Our perceptions and so our emotions are being manipultated.

Those who have succumbed to cognitive dissonance of: “Politicians are horrible Lying LIARS! But they *promise* they’ll secure the borders this time unlike every other time they promised.. And I believe them…”, are allowing themselves to be pulled down the path by politicians using “Border Security” as the leash.

And now that Rubio has finally mouthed the words “border security” in the most politically effective manner and time, they know that the LoFo’s (low info voters) will back off, smile, and bend over – giving the House plenty of political cover (Look! Over there! “Border Security Squirrel!”) to pass the Gangster’s bill.

That’s the plan and has been all along.

The immutable political law of illegal immigration is that America has a massive illegal immigration problem because our politicians and their cronies (the ruling class) benefit from us having a massive illegal immigration problem.

They benefit from the status quo of mass illegal immigration and they benefit not from solving problems, but from simply *promising* to solve problems…

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has the most influence among conservative voters in Republican primaries, told Breitbart News on Tuesday that Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) should be primaried for their support of the Senate’s immigration bill.

“Conservatives are getting ready for the 2014 and 2016 primaries. We have long memories, and there will be consequences for those who break campaign promises and vote for this amnesty bill,” Palin told Breitbart News. “Competition makes everyone work harder, be better, and be held accountable. This applies to politics, too. No one is ‘entitled’ to anything.”

She continued, “Rigorous debate in competitive primaries allows candidates the opportunity to explain their flip-flops. So think of contested primaries as a win-win for politicians and their voters.”

Palin responded to Breitbart News’s request for comment about an interview she did earlier on Tuesday with John Gibson on Fox News radio in which she said Rubio and Ayotte “turned their back” on voters and should be primaried to be held accountable. Rubio and Ayotte will be up for reelection in 2016.

“Every politician should be held accountable for breaking their campaign promises,” Palin said during an interview on the “John Gibson Radio Show” on Fox News radio. “They turned their back on the American public, so why should they not be held accountable?”

Palin said Rubio had promised that “border security would come first,” and he would not support “legalization of illegal immigrants” and “amnesty” before border security while running in the Florida Republican Senate primary against Charlie Crist in 2010. She said Ayotte, whom she endorsed, had on her campaign website in 2010 that there were “no excuses” not to secure the border and also said she would not support amnesty.

“I think that they should be challenged. I don’t have a problem with heated debates and contested primaries where they have to answer to constituents regarding their flip-flopping on such a fundamental position as amnesty for illegal immigrants,” she told Gibson. “I don’t have a problem at all with contested primaries. In fact, competition makes us all better and makes us be held accountable and I’d like to see them held accountable and answer as to why it is that they flip-flopped.”

Palin also told Gibson that she had said “nice things” about Rubio before he “reneged on his promise” on the bill because she thought he was “an honest politician.” She remarked, “honest politician” is too often an oxymoron.

“Marco Rubio has blatantly flip-flopped on his position on immigration, on amnesty, and border security,” Palin said to Gibson, before noting the Senate’s Gang of Eight bill he orchestrated would reward law breakers and give President Barack Obama “a victory in his mission to fundamentally transform America economically.”

Not that it matters to hardliners, but Kessler gave Cruz three Pinochios for this claim…

Cruz is off the mark here. He says there will be a “huge incentive.” But there is literally no incentive — unless Cruz expects companies to routinely break the law when looking for potential hires.

In any case, the pool of companies that could even, by coincidence, possibly take advantage of this quirk is too small to be even worthy of notice.

Cruz should have thought twice before he tweeted.

Update: The IBD rebuttal suggests that by “hire” Cruz was actually really saying “hire full time,” as companies might shift workers to less than 30-hour-work weeks in order to avoid Obamacare fines. IBD appears to be suggesting that companies would retain already-hired RPIs while shifting non-immigrants to part-time work. There are too many assumptions upon assumptions to make this scenario very credible. Moreover, we will note this argument was never made by Cruz’s office.

The key point is that Cruz claims there is a “huge incentive” for employers to in effect violate the law and there is little evidence to suggest that would be the case. Nevertheless, he doubled down on this claim on the Sean Hannity Show on June 24 by offering this interesting scenario: “I would be very curious if the columnist who wrote that who works for The Washington Post which has more employees how he would feel about it if they decided to fire him and hire someone who was here illegally because it was $5,000 more expensive to hire U.S. citizen to write that column.”

Besides, they could offer amendments to clarify this if they are really concerned rather than just stoop to misrepresenting the facts.